Arts South Australia

Arts South Australia (previously Arts SA) was responsible for managing the South Australian Government's funding for the arts and cultural heritage from about 1996 until late 2018, when it was progressively dismantled, a process complete by early 2019. Most of its functions were taken over by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet (DPC) under Premier Steven Marshall, while some went to the Department of Education and others to the Department for Innovation and Skills.

In September 2023, under the Malinauskas government, the arts were once again brought together under DPC.

History

Arts SA was created primarily as a funding body around 1996,[1][Note 1] at which time it fell under the Department of Transport, Urban Planning and the Arts (DTUPA).[2] It was responsible for the development of and funding for the arts sector within South Australia, and was responsible for nine statutory corporations and a number of not-for-profit arts organisations.

During the period of its existence, Ministers for the Arts were:

Diana Laidlaw (1993–2002)
Mike Rann (5 March 2002 – 21 October 2011),[3] while also serving as Premier
John Hill (21 October 2011 – 21 January 2013)[4]
Jay Weatherill (21 January 2013 – 26 March 2014),[5] while also serving as Premier
Jack Snelling (26 March 2014 – 17 September 2017)[6]
Jay Weatherill (18 September 2017 – 19 March 2018), while also serving as Premier[7]
Premier Steven Marshall was responsible for the portfolio since being elected in March 2018.[8][9] After August 2018, responsibilities were dispersed (see below).

Chief executives included:

Timothy O'Loughlin (1997–2000)[10][11][12][Note 2] (afterwards promoted to CEO of DTUPA)[13]
Kathie Massey (December 2000 – 2004)[14]
Greg Mackie (2004–2008)[15]
Alexandra Reid (2009–2015)[15]
Peter Louca (2010–2018)[16]

In September 1997, Arts Minister Laidlaw and then new CEO O'Louglin completely restructured Arts SA. Previously, it had operated under art form divisions, but the new structure created three divisions: arts leadership, professional development and emerging artists; cultural tourism and export; and the development of new commissions, events and festivals.[11]

From 2015 until August 2018, Arts South Australia was headed by Peter Louca, former chief of staff to Minister Jack Snelling[17] and one-time Labor Party candidate for the federal seat of Mayo.[18] Peter Louca instigated the re-branding of Arts SA to Arts South Australia in 2016.[19]

In 2016, following significant federal funding cuts experienced by several South Australian small to medium arts organisations,[20] Arts South Australia was criticised by Arts Industry Council for South Australia for not providing enough financial support to the independent arts sector.[21][22] In 2016 Arts South Australia operated with a budget of $140 million, less than one percent of the state budget.[23] It was then a division of the Department of State Development, overseen by the Minister for the Arts. In 2016 Arts South Australia established the campaign "Made In Adelaide" to export and promote South Australian artists at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.[24]

In September 2023, under the Malinauskas government, the arts were once again brought together under DPC, in a "united arts portfolio".[25] A new cultural policy was being developed at the same time, due to be released in mid-2024.[26]

Responsibilities